Here’s what you need to know:
- At the Parlier City Council meeting on Sept. 1, 2022, council members awarded a $10.7 million construction contract for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) removal systems for Wells #2A, #4A, #8, and #9 to Clark Bros., Inc. The contract includes granular activated carbon filters, backwash tanks, chemical buildings, and minor site improvements.
- The council members approved the City of Parlier Business Assistance Loan Guidelines. The total amount awarded is $125,000. Using only two-thirds of Coronavirus Relief (CV) funds, businesses can have up to $30,000 forgiven if the funds are used for growth and job creation.
- The council members rezoned the site of the City of Parlier Fig Tree Park Project to Open Conservation (O), providing consistency with the General Plan following the amendment from Medium Density Residential to Park.
- The council members approved amendments to the Parlier Municipal Code increasing the number of cannabis dispensaries permissible within the city limits from one to two. Councilmember Solorio voted no.
Follow-up questions:
- Will the contract with Clark Bros Inc. improve water safety for residents?
- How can businesses in Parlier access Coronavirus Relief funds?
- What can residents expect from the City of Parlier Fig Tree Park Project?
The Scene
According to its website, Parlier is a general law city governed by a five-member city council and operates under the city council-city manager form.
Council members are the leaders and policymakers elected to represent various community segments and concentrate on policy issues responsive to citizens’ needs and wishes. The city council appoints the city manager to carry out policy and ensure service for the entire community.
Parlier City Administrator Sonia Hall handles the city’s day-to-day business with an “open-door policy” to community residents and businesses, where comments, concerns, and suggestions are always welcome.
The Parlier City Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648, or through Youtube.
Parlier City Council Members present:
- Mayor Alma M. Beltran,
- Mayor Pro-Tempore Trinidad Pimentel,
- Council Member Diane Maldonado,
- Council Member Sabrina Rodriguez,
- Council Member Cathryn Solorio,
Others Present:
- City Manager Sonia Hall
- City Engineer Javier Andrade
- Assistant City Manager Bertha Escalera
- City Clerk Dorothy Garza
- City Treasurer Michelle Lopez
- City Planner Jeff O’Neal
- Chief of Police David Cerda
- Roberto Gomez
Discussions/Actions
The city council unanimously approved the following:
1. The council (5-0) approved the Check Reports dated August 2, 2022, to August 15, 2022.
2. The council (5-0) approved the Minutes dated Regular Meeting on July 21, 2022, and the regular and special meeting of August 18, 2022.
3. The council (5-0) approved the use of Veteran’s Memorial Park. It waived all Comprehensive Behavioral Services LLC (CBS) fees on September 17, 2022, for a Mush Ball tournament CBS vs. Parlier Police Department.
4. The council (5-0) approved the use of Veteran’s Memorial Park and waived all fees for Cen Cal Softball to hold car washes.
5. The council (5-0) approved the use of The Parlier Community Center. It waived all fees for Fresno State Enseñamos en el Valle Central and Parlier Unified School District on September 9, 2022, from 8 am to 4 pm.
Regular business involves the following:
6. The council (5-0) considered an amendment to the City’s Official Zoning Map in the matter of the City of Parlier Fig Tree Park Project. (presented by City Planner Jeff O’Neal)
The council waived the second reading and adopted Ordinance No.2022-04.
In 2017, the Housing Authority of Fresno County demolished an existing 50-unit
affordable housing community built in 1964 that occupied approximately 7.59 acres of
land within the same parcel.
The Housing Authority constructed a new 56-unit affordable housing apartment complex, occupying only approximately 4.82 acres of land in the same parcel.
The City has received funding from the California Natural Resource Agency to fund the design and construction of a park on the part of the remaining area.
Following a public hearing at a regular meeting on August 18, 2022, the City Council took
the following actions:
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-46, adopting a negative declaration for the project,
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-47, amending the General Plan Land Use Diagram
to reflect the planned land use of the project site as a Park, and
3. Introduced and waived the first reading of Ordinance No. 2022-04, which would
change the zoning of the project site to Open Conservation.
The project site is currently zoned R-2 (Low Density / Multiple Family Residential).
Rezoning the site to O (Open Conservation) would provide consistency with the General
Plan following the amendment from Medium Density Residential to Park. O is a consistent
zone district for the Park General Plan land use designation.
This proposal qualifies as a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
(CEQA) because it is an activity directly carried out by a public agency.
An Initial Study (IS) analyzes the potential for significant environmental effects that could result from the project.
Based on the results of the IS, the project would result in less than significant environmental effects, and adopting a Negative Declaration (ND) would be appropriate.
The combined IS/ND was circulated through the State Clearinghouse for 30 days, from June 15, 2022, to July 14, 2022.
Suppose the City Council adopts the IS/ND and decides to carry out the project. In that case, the City will be responsible for payment of a CEQA $2,598.00 filing fee upon filing the notice of determination with the County Clerk.
This filing must occur within five business days of Council action.
7. The council (4-1) considered amendments to Parlier Municipal Code Section 18.55.020(A) regarding the number of cannabis dispensaries permissible within the city limits. Council member Kathy Solorio voted no.
The council waived the second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 2022-05.
The City Council established the City’s Cannabis Control Ordinance (Parlier Municipal Code [PMC] Chapter 18.55) on November 15, 2017, via Ordinance No. 2017-03.
The ordinance was and is intended to regulate commercial cannabis activities and, to a lesser extent, recreational and medical use of cannabis, consistent with the provisions of the
State’s Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
To accommodate changes in the State’s regulatory scheme as well as changes in local
preference and policy, the Ordinance has been amended from time to time.
On November 19, 2020, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2020-5, which made
certain amendments to the Cannabis Control Ordinance intended to authorize the Council
to approve the operation of a maximum of one cannabis dispensary with the Parlier city
limits.
Under the revised provisions, such a dispensary could be allowed subject to the approval of a cannabis regulatory permit at the Council’s discretion. A follow-up ordinance revision added dispensaries to the list of uses in the C-4 Central Trading) zone.
One such retail facility has been approved and is, at this time, operational.
The most recent amendments to the Cannabis Control Ordinance occurred in May and
June 2021 (Ordinance Nos. 2021-02 and 2021-03).
Those amendments were intended to clarify the language added via Ordinance No. 2020-5 and address provisions for outdoor commercial cultivation.
The City Council has since desired to facilitate additional storefront retail cannabis activities.
Accordingly, the council has directed staff to prepare an ordinance amendment allowing a maximum of two storefront retail facilities (dispensaries), each subject to separate Council approval of a regulatory permit.
Following a public hearing at a regular meeting on August 18, 2022, the city council
introduced and waived the first reading of Ordinance No. 2022-05.
Ordinance No. 2022-05 would provide that a maximum of two dispensaries may be
authorized city-wide subject to Council approval of a cannabis regulatory permit.
The proposed ordinance amendment does not approve or otherwise authorize any
the specific activity that could result in a physical change to the environment; it is solely an
amendment to regulations.
In cases where it can be shown with certainty that the project being considered has no possibility of causing a significant impact on the environment, the project is not subject to CEQA as indicated in Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Estimated staff time amounting to less than $1,000 for preparation of reports, resolution,
and ordinance and meeting attendance, plus approximately $500 for public noticing.
Future approval of additional commercial cannabis activities can potentially increase the City’s General Fund revenue by an unspecified amount.
8. Consider adopting Resolution No. 2022-50 Authorizing Contract Award of the TCP Removal Treatment at Wells #2A, #4A, #5, #8, and #9A Project to Clark Bros., Inc.
The council (5-0) adopted Resolution No. 2022-50, awarding the construction contract for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) removal systems at Wells #2A, #4A, #5, #8 and #9A to Clark Bros., Inc. for $10,782,971.00.
The City of Parlier’s TCP Removal Treatment at Wells #2A, #4A, #5, #8, and #9A Project includes the construction of TCP removal systems for Wells #2A, #4A, #8, and #9.
These removal systems consist of granular activated carbon filters, backwash tanks, chemical buildings, and minor site improvements.
A total of seven bids were received, opened, and read aloud at 2:00 p.m. on August 23, 2022. Clark Bros., Inc. submitted the lowest responsive bid for $10,782,972.00.
If the Construction contract is awarded to Clark Bros at this meeting, the anticipated completion for the construction of the improvements is October 2023.
To maintain that completion date, the City would need to use the TCP settlement fund until the State approves the Final Budget. Final Budget Approval is typically obtained within 3 to 4 months.
The total project cost is $17,501,982.00, of which the construction subtotal is estimated at $13,694,382.00, consisting of the construction bid, contingency, environmental mitigation, and construction administration.
The procurement cost of the granular activated carbon filters for the treatment systems is estimated at $3,807.600.00.
Funding for the project is provided by a Drinking Water State Revolving Fünd grant.
9. Public hearing, second reading, and adoption of an ordinance amending the Parlier Municipal Code (PMC), adding Section 2,16.040 to adopt a policy relating to the Police Department’s use of military equipment.
The council conducted a public hearing, waived the second reading, and adopted Ordinance No.2022-03, adopting a policy relating to the use of military equipment and scheduled adoption for a public hearing.
The Legislature recently adopted Government Code §7070 through 7072.
The legislation is an apparent effort to allow for public scrutiny of a police department’s use of military equipment.
The legislation requires the Police Department to develop and adopt a policy relating to the use of military equipment and to disclose the military equipment it currently uses. It also requires that the policy be adopted as a resolution.
The proposed ordinance conforms to those new requirements by simply incorporating the policy adopted by the Police Department by reference.
Adopting this ordinance is necessary to bring the City into compliance with the new State law.
10. Update and Approval of the Guidelines for the City of Parlier Business Assistance Grant and Loan Guidelines.
Council (5-0) approved the City of Parlier Business Assistance Loan Guidelines.
The City of Parlier received a grant to provide Business Assistance Grants/loans.
The total amount awarded is $125,000. The guidelines reflect maximum assistance and the terms.
Using only two-thirds of Coronavirus Relief (CV) funds, they can have up to $30,000 forgiven if the funds are used for growth and job creation.
Anything above $30,000 would be a loan at 3 percent interest to be paid over 30 years.
The loans are covered through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant that was recently awarded.
11. Public hearing, first public hearing, first reading, and introduction of an ordinance amending portions of Chapters 13.10 and 13.50 of the Parlier Municipal Code relating to the application for furnishing water and sewer conditions services, respectively.
The council conducted a public hearing, waived the first reading, and introduced Ordinance No. 2022-06, amending portions of Chapters 13.10 and 13.50 of the Parlier Municipal Code relating to the application for and conditions to furnishing water and sewer services, respectively.
Our ordinance already requires water and sewer accounts to be held in the name of the
owner, however, they refer to “new” accounts.
With the owner’s written consent, the ordinance allows the bill to be sent to a tenant, but the account remains in the owner’s name, and the owner remains liable for all charges.
Other revisions are to the provisions concerning deposits which we have made as straight
$200 fee for both water and sewer.
The deposit remains on deposit with the City until the account is terminated.
The prior ordinances required the return of the deposit after one year. The overall intent of these changes is to make a collection of charges virtually certain.
During the closed session, the city council members mainly discussed the following:
12. Public Employment Under Government Code Section 54957
All Positions.
13. Potential Litigation Under Government Code Section 54956.9
One Case
14. Pending Litigation Under Government.Code Section 54956,9
Garza v. City of Parlier
Fresno Superior Case No. 21CECG02953
The meeting ended at 9:45 p.m. The next city council meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648, or through Zoom.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.